THE FAIR MAID OF THE INN. A TRAGI-COMEDY. The Commendatory Verses of Gardiner ascribe this Play to Fletcher alone. It was first published in the folio of 1647; and has not been acted many years, nor, we believe, ever altered. Will sometimes tender things unnecessary, Misconstrue not my purpose! Clar. Sir, I dare not; But still receive it as a large addition To render me suspected I can fall Ces. Far be't from me, To nourish such a thought! and yet excuse me, As you would do a lapidary, whose whole fortunes To cast one cloud upon it, but still keep Ces. 'Tis well; I commend you; Clar. That from me Ces. I do confess it. Yet let me tell you, (but still with that love Clar. How? [picture, Ces. Whereas the custom's here to wooe by And never sce the substance. You are fair, And beauty draws temptations on, you know it: I would not live to see a willing grant you, That have prov'd this no miracle. Why, [me. Clar. I've reason! But, in cold blood, tell Had we not one father? Ces. Yes, and mother too. Clar. If I then borrow A little of the boldness of his temper, Why, did you think that you had Giges' ring? Or that Biancha's name had ne'er been mention'd? The Fair Maid of the grand Osteria, brother? Ces. No more! Clar. A little, brother. Your night-walks, And offer'd presents, which coy she con temu'd; Your combats in disguises with your rivals, Which honour last will leave you.] Amended by Seward. 2 Common order.] Corrected in 1750. Brave muletteers, scullions perfum'd with [member'd: grease, And such as cry meat for cats, must be re- Ces. Will you end yet? Clur. And this a mistress for Albertus' son? One that I should call sister? Ces. Part not with Your modesty in this violent heat! The truth is, (For you shall be my confessor) I love her; But virtuously report, that gives her out Only for fair, and adds not she is chaste, Detracts much from her; for indeed she is, Tho' of a low condition, compos'd Of all the graces dames of highest birth, Tho' rich in nature's bounties, should be proud of. But leave her! and to you, my nearest care, My dearest, best Clariss. Do not think (For then you wrong me) I wish you should live A barren virgin life! I rather aim at A noble husband, that may make you mother Of many children; one that, when I know him Worth your embraces, I may serve and sue to: And therefore scorn not to acquaint me with That man, that happy man, you please to fayour! Clar. I ever purpos'd it; for I will like With your allowance. Ces. As a pawn of this, Receive this ring; but, ere you part with it On any terms, be certain of your choice, And make it known to me! Enter Aberto, Baptista, Mariana, Mentivole, and Servants with lights. Clar. You have my hand for't. Ces. Which, were it not my sister's, I should kiss Delighted more than their rewards, tho' great ones, And worth the undertakers: here we study If that the least puff of the rough north-wind If a strong gale but made the main-yard crack, We danc'd to the loud minstrel. Bapt. And fear'd less (So far we were in love with noble action) A tempest than a calm. Alb. 'Tis true, Baptista: In manly daring, the true school of friendship, Bapt. Never, I hope. [roaring cannon should enjoy it Mar. If so got, 'tis fit, sir, Now you pos-ess it, that you In peace and quiet: I, your son, and daughter, That reap the harvest of your winter's labour, Tho' debtors for it, yet have often trembled, When, in way of discourse, you have related How you came by it. Alb. Trembled? How the softness Of your sex may excuse you, I'll not argue; But to the world, howe'er I hold thee noble, I should proclaim this boy some coward's bastard, And not the image of Albertus' youth, If when some wish'd occasion calls him forth To a brave trial, one weak artery Of his should shew a fever, tho' grim death Put on a thousand dreadful shapes to fright bin. The elements, the sea, and all the winds Sirrab, I must, if once you grapple with 3 Anl such as cry meat for cats.] The second folio reads want; but we apprehend the text to be right. In Massinger's Maid of Honour, act iii. sc. 1, Gasparo, in mentioning the most ignoble employments, says, 'I will cry brooms or cats' meat in Palermo, * Blast our time's burden.] The correction by Seward, R. Tt2 The The desperate gunner ready to give fire, Thy hands like his cut off, hang by the teeth, Mar. I even die to hear you! Alb. A wife? As if there were a course to purchase one Of warlike Genoa! they had eyes to see [torch; Could work on them; nor once bewitch'd Tho' he came so perfum'd as he had robb'd And stor❜d it in one suit. I still remember, How lovely in thy honour'a wounds and scars The beauties of the city, where they stood, [liana, Borne thro' the streets! nor could chaste JuThe duke's fair niece, tho' guarded with her greatness, Resist this gallant charge, but, laying by Bapt. Pray you ‹huse Some other theme. Mar. Can there be one more pleasing? And 'tis in the remembrance little less, Mar. How! To gain 4 Carpet knight.] Carpet knights are frequently mentioned with great contempt by our ancient writers. The learned Sir James Burrows gives the following account of them: 'There was an order of knighthood of the appellation of KNIGHTS of the CARPET, though 'few, or no persons (at least among those whom I have consulted) seem to know any thing about it, or even to have heard of it. I have taken some memoranda concerning the institution, and know that William lord Burgh (of Starborough castle, in the county of Surry, 'father to Thomas lord Burgh, deputy of Ireland, and to sir John Burgh who took the great Caracca ship in 1592) was made a knight of the carpet, at Westminster, on the 2d of Oc'tober, 1553, the day after queen Mary's coronation: and I met with a list of all who were made so at the same time, in Strype's Memorials, vol. iii. Appendix, p. 11. See Anstis's Observations on the Knighthood of the Bath, (Lond. 1725) p. 50, Upor. "the accession of queen Mary to the throne, a commission was granted to the earl of Arun "del, empowering him to make knights, but WITHOUT any additional title, within two days "after the date of that patent: which were the two days preceding her coronation. In pursuance hereof, we find the names of the kaights created by him, according to the stated "form of creating knights of the Bath; and the variety of the ceremonies used, so distinctly "related, that it particularly deserves to be consulted in the appendix." 66 So that Mr. Anstis plainly considers them as being only a species of knights of the Bath, though without any additional title. If so, the appellation of knights of the carpet might be only popular; not their strict or proper title. This, however, was sufficient to induce Shakespeare (who wrote whilst they were commonly spoken of by such an appellation) to use that term, in contrast to a knighthood conferred upon a real soldier, as a reward of military valour.' In addition to this note, and in confirmation of it, Mr. Steevens produces the following example from The Downfal of Robert Earl of Huntingdon, 1001: soldiers, come away ; This carpet knight sits carping at our scars.' They are mentioned also by Taylor the Water Poet, in The Praise of Hempsced; "Castles for ladies, and for carpet knights, 5 Captive streames.] Corrected in 1750. Bu Bapt. [madam, Bapt. Yes, Since it prov'd fatal: to have been happy, Adds to calamity; and the heavy loss Of her I durst not hope for, once enjoy'd, Turns what you think a blessing to a curse, Which grief would have forgotten. Alb. I am sorry I touch'd upon it. Mar. I burn rather, sir, With a desire to hear the story of Your loves; and shall receive it as a favour, Which you may grant. Bapt. You must not be denied; Yet with all brevity I must report it. 'Tis true, fair Juliana, (Genoa's pride) Enamour'd of my actions, lik'd my person; Nor could I but with joy meet her affection, Since it was lawful; for, my first wife dead, We were closely married, and for some few months To snore it out, like drunken Dutchmen, would Sort ill with us Italians: we are made Of other metal, fiery, quick, and active. Shall we take our fortune? and, while our cold fathers [dead) (In whom long since their youthful heats were Talk much of Mars, serve under Venus' enAnd seek a mistress? Ces. That's a game, dear friend, Ment. I'll not press you. [signs, What other sports to entertain the time with The following morning? Ces. Any that may become us. [sent you, Ment. Is the Neapolitan horse the viceroy In a fit plight to run? Ces. So my groom tells me. I can boast little of my horsemanship; A thousand crowns, 'gainst any horse in Flo Enter Clarissa. With the next rising suu. Ment. A match! But here Appears a Cynthia, that scorns to borrow A Leam of light from the great eye of Heav'n, She being herself all brightness: how I envy Those amorous smiles, those kisses, but sure chaste ones, Which she vouchsafes her brother! Clar. You are wanton: Pray you think me not Biancha; leave, I pray you! My mother will not sleep before she see you; And since you know her tenderness, nay foud ness, [safety, In every circumstance that concerns your You are not cqual to her. Ces. I must leave you; But will not fail to meet you. Ment. Soft sleeps to you! Mar. [within] Cesario! Clar. You're call'd again. Ces. Some sons 6 Yes, since it prov'd fatal.] The particle inserted in the text improving both sense and measure, was most probably in the original. Seward reads, thereby destroying both sense and measure.' Seward. Since it prov'd so fatal; 7 Equal.] i. e. Just. The word frequently occurs in that sense. Complain |